Jim Fregosi, former Angels star and manager, dies at 71

In this Oct. 9, 1993 file photo, Philadelphia Phillies manger Jim Fregosi watches during batting practice before the start of game 3 of the NLCS in Atlanta. Fregosi, a former All-Star who won more than 1,000 games as a manager for four teams, has died after an apparent stroke. He was 71. The Atlanta Braves say they were notified by a family member that died early Friday, Feb. 14, 2014, in Miami, where he was hospitalized after the apparent stroke while on a cruise with baseball alumni. (AP Photo/Ed Reinke file)

Jim Fregosi’s presence still looms large over Angel Stadium.

His jersey number, 11, is one of five retired numbers adorning the stadium walls. No player hit more triples in an Angels uniform, as a list painted outside the home clubhouse attests. Only Rod Carew made as many All-Star appearances — six — in an Angels uniform as Fregosi.

When word spread Wednesday that Fregosi had suffered a stroke on a Major League Baseball players’ cruise, the news rippled from the Cayman Islands to Anaheim. On Friday morning, Fregosi died at the Miami hospital where he had been transferred following the stroke.

“The Angels organization joins the rest of the Major League Baseball community in mourning the loss today of Jim Fregosi,” read a statement released by the team. “Jim’s personality was infectious, his love of the game legendary, and his knowledge endless.”

Fregosi’s impact in baseball was widespread.

“If you didn’t like Jim Fregosi you better look in the mirror,” Philadelphia Phillies and former Dodgers coach Larry Bowa told SiriusXM, “because I don’t know anybody that I’ve ever talked to in the baseball world that said ‘I don’t like Jim Fregosi.’

“What a great baseball mind. What a great personality.”

Bill Bavasi, an executive currently with the Reds and formerly with the Angels and Dodgers, told SiriusXM “he’s never been with the Reds but people here, it seems like everybody knew him. He was one of those guys that reached out and touched a lot of lives.”

Fregosi, 71, was the 17th player chosen by the Angels in the 1960 expansion draft as an 18-year-old shortstop in the Boston Red Sox system. He starred for the Angels during an era in which the team never finished higher than third place.

He played parts of 18 seasons from 1961-78 and finished his career with the New York Mets, Texas Rangers and Pittsburgh Pirates.

Fregosi perhaps is best-known for being traded in December 1971 to the Mets for Nolan Ryan and three marginal players. Ryan went on to become one of the greatest pitchers of all time; Fregosi played only 146 games for the Mets and batted .233 before his contract was purchased by the Rangers.

The Angels hired Fregosi to manage the team in the middle of the 1978 season, when Fregosi still was playing for Pittsburgh at age 36. The Pirates granted his release May 31; Fregosi became the Angels’ manager two days later.

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Fregosi guided the Angels to an 87-win season in 1978, good for second place in the American League West. In 1979, the Angels won the division for the first time in franchise history.

“He was loved by Gene Autry, who was an American hero himself,” Bavasi told SiriusXM. “Gene just loved the competitiveness of this guy and everything about him.”

In 1980, the Angels plummeted to 65-95. Fregosi was fired in May 1981 with the Angels in fourth place.

In stints managing the Angels, Chicago White Sox (1986-88), Philadelphia Phillies (1991-96) and Toronto Blue Jays (1999-2000) Fregosi’s teams went 1028-1094. His 1993 Phillies squad lost to the Blue Jays in the World Series.

Fregosi was born April 4, 1942, in San Francisco. He is survived by his wife, Joni, and multiple children and grandchildren.

MLB commissioner Bud Selig issued a statement of condolence Friday: “I was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Jim Fregosi, who contributed to the success of our Clubs for 53 years as an All-Star player with the Angels, a pennant-winning manager with the Phillies, a trusted scout with the Braves and many other capacities. The outpouring of support in recent days illustrates the vast respect that Jim earned in a great baseball life. The many Clubs that he touched are in mourning today.

“On behalf of Major League Baseball, I extend my deepest condolences to Jim’s wife Joni, his entire family and his many friends and admirers throughout our game.”